Ron Klimkowski
Encyclopedia
Ronald Bernard Klimkowski (March 1, 1944–November 13, 2009) was a baseball player born in Jersey City, New Jersey
. He was a right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher
and junkball specialist. He played for the New York Yankees
(–) and the Oakland Athletics
during his career.
Klimkowski attended college at Morehead State University
for only one year. He was the first graduate of Clarke High School in Westbury, NY to play in the major leagues.
, Ron Klimkowski was signed by the Boston Red Sox
as an amateur free agent
. On August 8, 1967, he was sent by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 3, 1967. The Boston Red Sox traded Pete Magrini
to the New York Yankees for Elston Howard
. Klimkowski was traded to the New York Yankees by the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade. Klimkowski made his major league debut on September 15, 1969. On that day, the Detroit Tigers
were playing against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium
ballpark with 5,734 people attending the game. Klimkowski was called to replace Tom Shopay
pitching and batting 9th at the top of the seventh inning
. He pitched three full innings. At the bottom of the ninth inning, Dave McDonald
was called to pinch hit for Klimkowski batting 9th. At the end of the game, the New York Yankees lost the game 2–1. On April 9, 1971, he was traded by the New York Yankees with Rob Gardner
to the Oakland Athletics for Felipe Alou. On May 22, 1972, he was released by the Oakland Athletics and on the same day was signed again with the New York Yankees. Klimkowski played his last Major League Baseball game on September 22, 1972. He died of heart failure at Plainview Hospital
in Plainview, New York
on November 13, 2009 at the age of 65.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He was a right-handed Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and junkball specialist. He played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(–) and the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
during his career.
Klimkowski attended college at Morehead State University
Morehead State University
Morehead State University is a public, co-educational university located in Morehead, Kentucky, United States in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, midway between Lexington, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia. The 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S...
for only one year. He was the first graduate of Clarke High School in Westbury, NY to play in the major leagues.
Career
Before the 1964 season1964 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 7 at Shea Stadium: National League, 7–4; Johnny Callison, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Minnesota...
, Ron Klimkowski was signed by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. On August 8, 1967, he was sent by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 3, 1967. The Boston Red Sox traded Pete Magrini
Pete Magrini
Peter Alexander Magrini is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox. He attended Santa Clara University, where he struck out Willie Mays during an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants. He was signed as an amateur by the Minnesota Twins in...
to the New York Yankees for Elston Howard
Elston Howard
Elston Gene Howard was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball catcher, left fielder and coach. During a 14-year baseball career, he played from 1955–1968, primarily for the New York Yankees...
. Klimkowski was traded to the New York Yankees by the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade. Klimkowski made his major league debut on September 15, 1969. On that day, the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
were playing against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
ballpark with 5,734 people attending the game. Klimkowski was called to replace Tom Shopay
Tom Shopay
Thomas Michael Shopay is a former Major League Baseball player. Shopay was a left-handed hitter who played outfielder for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles ....
pitching and batting 9th at the top of the seventh inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
. He pitched three full innings. At the bottom of the ninth inning, Dave McDonald
Dave McDonald
David Bruce McDonald is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. McDonald attended school at the University of Nebraska and was signed by the New York Yankees in . He played with the Yankees in and with the Montreal Expos in .-External links:*...
was called to pinch hit for Klimkowski batting 9th. At the end of the game, the New York Yankees lost the game 2–1. On April 9, 1971, he was traded by the New York Yankees with Rob Gardner
Rob Gardner (baseball)
Richard Frank Gardner is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the distinction of having been traded twice by the New York Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for one of the Alou brothers.-Early years:...
to the Oakland Athletics for Felipe Alou. On May 22, 1972, he was released by the Oakland Athletics and on the same day was signed again with the New York Yankees. Klimkowski played his last Major League Baseball game on September 22, 1972. He died of heart failure at Plainview Hospital
Plainview Hospital
Plainview Hospital is an acute care community hospital with 239 beds located on 888 Old Country Road in Plainview, NY. This Level II trauma center is one of the 15 member hospitals that make-up the North Shore-LIJ Health System...
in Plainview, New York
Plainview, New York
Plainview is a hamlet located on Long Island in the town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, USA. The population of the CDP as of 2010 was 26,217. The Plainview post office has the ZIP code 11803....
on November 13, 2009 at the age of 65.
External links
- Ron Klimkowski at Baseball-Reference.com
- Ron Klimkowski at Baseball-Almanac.com
- Ron Klimkowski at Baseball Library.com